UC-NRLF 


E7    751 


P    S 

3525 

A2895 

D7 

1911 

MAIN 


^ 


GIFT  OF 


Santa  Barbara 


f  At  every  Mission  there  were  walled  gardens 
and  waving  palms  " 


rift  O' 


San  -f  ranclsco.  California 


COPYRIGHT:  mi 
BY 

RACINE  McROSKEY 


SaitTranclsco,  California 


TO  FELLOW  DREAMERS 


374028 


//  is  a  question,  whether  it  were  not  better  to  be 
the  shabbiest  of  fools,  and  know  the  way  up  the  little 
stair  of  imagination  to  the  land  of  dreams,  than  the 
wisest  of  men  who  see  nothing  that  the  eyes  do  not  show, 
and  feel  nothing  that  the  hands  may  not  touch.  " 

OLIVE  SCHREINER. 


CONTENTS 

Page 

The  Great  Franciscans  And  Their  Work  -     9 

An  Indian  Lament      -  34 

In  Years  To  Come                                      -  -  36 

A  Prophesy                                               -  -                 38 

Friendship      -  -  40 

One  Hour  In  A  Thousand  Years  -        41 

An  Uninvited  Guest                                       -  -  45 

The  Border  Gate  -        48 

Closing  The  Club  Year  -         -         -         -  -         -  50 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS 
AND  THEIR  WORK. 


Like  a  dream  they  pass  away,  but  the  memory 
ivill  li^ue  forever. '  * 

BOUT  eighty  miles  north  of 
Rome,  in  a  singularly  pictur 
esque  region  of  central  Italy, 
built  upon  a  steep  hill,  is 
situated  the  city  of  Assisi 
(As-se-ze).  It  is  surrounded 
by  a  wall,  flanked  with  tow 
ers,  and  overhung  by  lofty  citadels  in  ruins. 
Assisi  occupies  the  site  of  the  ancient  Roman 
city  Assisium,  and  presents  the  remains  of  the 
forum,  the  baths  and  the  aqueducts  of  the 
days  of  the  Romans. 

(1182.)  It  is  the  birthplace  of  St.  Francis, 
who  was  the  founder  of  the  order  of  mendi 
cants  that  bears  his  name,  and  the  home  of 
the  first  monastery,  the  Convento  Sacro,  a 
large  and  beautiful  structure,  and  one  of  the 
earliest  specimens  of  the  Gothic  style  of  archi 
tecture  in  Italy. 


DRIFT  a  DREAMS 

The  baptismal  name  of  the  saint  was 
Giovanni,  but  his  father,  Pietro  Bernardone, 
who  was  a  rich  merchant,  gave  him  the  sur 
name  of  "  Francisco  "  out  of  his  predilection 
for  France,  with  which  country  he  had  an 
extensive  trade.  His  mother  was  of  the  noble 
family  of  Pica,  and  a  woman  of  gentle  piety 
and  noble  character. 

Giovanni  was  well  and  carefully  raised,  and 
at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  was  taken  into 
business  by  his  father.  After  ten  years  of  the 
pursuit  of  business,  well  mixed  with  the  social 
pleasures  of  the  day,  there  came  a  time  of 
deep  meditation,  and  after  long  pondering  he 
abandoned  his  old  friends  and  haunts,  and 
returning  all  his  belongings,  even  to  his 
clothing,  to  his  father,  he  embraced  a  life  of 
rigid  penance  and  utter  poverty. 

His  object  was  to  lead  a  life  as  near  as  pos 
sible  modeled  after  that  of  Christ,  and  by 
absolute  renunciation  of  the  world  to  attain 
evangelical  perfection. 

He  retired  to  a  grotto  near  Assisi  and  gave 
himself  up  to  penance  and  profound  meditation 
on  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  for  a  long  time. 

Coming  out  again,  he  was  filled  with  a 
great  enthusiasm  and  happiness.  It  is  recorded 

10 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

that  during  the  months  when  St.  Francis  went 
up  and  down  the  streets  of  Assisi,  carrying  in 
his  delicate,  unused  hands  the  stones  for  re 
building  the  Saint  Damian's  chapel,  he  was 
continually  singing  psalms,  breaking  forth 
into  ejaculations  of  gratitude,  his  face  beam 
ing  as  that  of  one  who  saw  visions  of  unspeak 
able  delight. 

How  much  of  the  spirit  or  instinct  of 
prophecy  there  might  have  been  in  his  exult 
ant  joy,  only  he  himself  knew.  But  it  would 
seem  strange  if  there  had  not  been  vouchsafed 
to  him  some  partial  revelation  of  the  splendid 
results  which  would  follow  the  carrying  out 
in  the  world  of  the  divine  impulses  which 
had  blazed  up  in  his  soul. 

His  austerities  and  simple  eloquence  soon 
attracted  attention,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
others,  drawn  by  his  ardent  example,  sought 
to  follow  in  his  steps  and  join  with  him  in 
his  austere  mode  of  life. 

It  is  certain  that  very  early  in  his  career 
Francis  had  the  purpose  of  founding  an  order, 
whose  members,  being  utterly  unselfish  in 
life,  should  be  fit  heralds  of  God  and  mighty 
helpers  of  men. 

His  first  companions  were  fellow  townsmen, 

11 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

Bernard  of  Quintavalle,  a  rich  and  noble  lay 
man,  and  Peter  of  Catana,  a  canon  of  the 
cathedral. 

After  much  entreaty  the  church  gave  its 
sanction  to  the  "Seraphic's  Saints"  band  of 
"  Fratri  Minores,"  or  lesser  brothers,  and 
the  organized  work  of  the  Franciscan  Order 
began. 

That  was  in  the  year  1208,  and  from  then 
until  now  the  Franciscans  have  been,  in  the 
literal  sense  of  the  word,  "  helpers  of  men." 

Other  orders  of  the  Catholic  Church  have 
won  more  distinction  in  the  way  of  learning, 
political  power,  marvelous  suffering  of  pen 
ances  and  deprivations;  but  the  record  of  the 
Franciscans  is  in  the  main  a  record  of  lives 
and  work  like  the  life  and  work  of  their 
founder. 

The  rule  which  St.  Francis  prescribed  for 
his  followers  consisted  of  the  gospel  counsels 
of  perfection,  to  which  he  added  some  things 
necessary  to  the  uniformity  of  their  manner 
of  life. 

He  exhorts  his  brethren  to  manual  labors, 
but  will  have  them  content  to  receive  for  it 
things  necessary  for  life,  not  money.  He 
bids  them  not  to  be  ashamed  to  beg  alms, 

12 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

remembering  the  poverty  of  Christ,  and  for 
bids  them  to  preach  in  any  place  without  the 
Bishop's  license. 

There  were  twenty-seven  precepts  in  the 
rule  laid  down  for  the  order,  all  of  which 
were  declared  by  several  Pontiffs  as  binding 
on  the  friars  of  the  order,  under  pain  of  mortal 
sin.  They  described  the  carrying  out  of  the 
vows  of  poverty,  chastity  and  obedience; 
regulated  the  dress  to  be  worn;  ordered  that 
the  friars  go  barefoot;  specified  feasts  and 
enjoined  a  blind,  unlimited  obedience  to 
superiors. 

The  habit  he  gave  them  was  a  dull  grey 
gown  of  coarse  cloth  with  a  pointed  capouch, 
or  hood,  one  under  tunic  and  drawers,  and  a 
cord  around  the  waist.  The  costume  closely 
resembled  that  worn  by  poor  shepherds  in  that 
part  of  Italy.  Among  other  things  he  said:  — 

i(  Let  your  behaviour  in  the  world  be  such 
that  everyone  who  sees  or  hears  you  may 
praise  the  Heavenly  Father/' 

"  Preach  peace  to  all;  but  have  it  in  your 
hearts  still  more  than  on  your  lips." 

"  Give  no  occasion  of  anger  or  scandal  to 
any,  but  by  your  gentleness  lead  all  men  to 
goodness,  peace  and  union." 

13 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

"We  are  called  to  heal  the  wounded  and 
recall  the  erring,  for  there  are  many  who 
appear  to  you  as  limbs  of  the  devil,  who  will 
one  day  be  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ/' 

In  1210  St.  Francis  sought  confirmation  of 
his  rule  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  Innocent  III. 
At  first  he  rejected  the  saint's  petition  and  St. 
Francis  humbly  withdrew  to  solitary  prayer. 
That  night  the  Pontiff  dreamed  of  a  palm 
springing  up  at  his  feet  that  waxed  until  it 
became  a  great  tree.  The  impression  grew 
vividly  upon  him  that  the  palm  signified  the 
poor  petitioner,  so  he  ordered  search  made 
for  him  and  he  was  found  and  brought.  The 
Pope  declared  that  he  had  seen  the  Lateran 
Basilica  falling  and  held  up  by  one  despised 
man  who  set  his  back  against  the  wall  and 
propped  it.  "Truly,"  said  he,  "here  is 
that  man  who  by  his  work  and  teachings  will 
sustain  the  Church  of  Christ." 

Some  years  later  St.  Francis  drew  up  the 
rule  in  more  compendious  form,  and  it  was 
solemnly  ratified  by  Honorius  III.  in  1223. 
The  sanction  of  Innocent  III.  in  1210  had 
been  a  verbal  assent. 

Upon  the  death  of  St.  Francis  in  1226,  the 
next  Minister-General  of  the  entire  Order  was 

14 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

Elias  of  Cortona,  an  ambitious,  restless,  tyran 
nical  man.  He  relaxed  some  of  the  stern 
rules,  and  controversy  arose  and  the  order 
was  divided  into  Conventionals  and  Obser- 
vantines.  As  the  names  imply,  the  Conven 
tionals  accept  the  lighter  rules  and  conventions 
while  the  Observantines  held  to  the  first 
rigorous  rules. 

No  Order  of  the  Church  has  surpassed  the 
zeal  of  the  Franciscans,  and  to  them  much 
credit  for  the  discovery  of  America  must  be 
given,  as  Fray  John  Perez  de  Marchena, 
guardian  of  a  convent  near  Seville  and  a 
learned  cosmographer,  entered  warmly  into 
the  plans  of  Columbus  and  greatly  influenced 
Queen  Isabella,  whose  confessor  he  had  been, 
to  fit  out  the  expedition  of  1492.  Within  a 
year  or  two  Fray  John  himself  came  to 
America  and  opened  the  first  Christian  church 
in  the  new  world,  at  a  small  settlement  in 
Hayti.  As  early  as  1342,  or  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  before  the  discovery  of  America, 
the  guardianship  of  the  Holy  Places  in  Jeru 
salem  was  committed  to  the  Order,  and  they 
still  retain  it. 


IS 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

Among  the  treasures  of  the  Franciscan 
College  of  Santa  Barbara,  is  an  old  daguerreo 
type,  taken  from  a  portrait  painted  more  than 
one  hundred  years  ago  at  the  College  of  San 
Fernando,  in  Mexico. 

The  face  is  one,  once  seen,  never  to  be 
forgotten;  full  of  spirituality,  tenderness  and 
unutterable  pathos.  The  mouth  and  chin 
are  delicately  sensitive,  the  forehead  and  eyes 
strong,  radiant  with  quenchless  purpose,  but 
filled  with  that  solemn,  yearning,  almost 
superhuman  sadness  which  is  the  sign  and 
seal  on  the  faces  of  men  born  to  die  for  the 
sake  of  their  fellows.  It  is  the  face  of  Father 
Junipero  Serra,  the  first  founder  of  Franciscan 
Missions  in  South  California.  There  is  a 
notable  likeness  between  the  face  of  Father 
Junipero  and  that  of  St.  Francis.  The  small 
and  delicate  features,  the  broad  forehead  and 
the  expression  of  great  tenderness,  are  the 
same  in  both.  But  the  saint  had  a  joyousness 
that  his  illustrious  follower  never  knew. 

He  was  born  of  lowly  people,  in  the  island 
of  Majorca  in  1712,  and  while  he  was  yet  a 
little  child  sang  in  the  choir  of  the  Convent 
of  San  Bernardino. 

He  was  but  sixteen  when  he  entered  the 

16 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

Franciscan  order  and  before  he  was  eighteen 
he  had  taken  the  final  vows.  On  becoming 
a  monk  he  laid  aside  his  baptismal  name  of 
Michael  Joseph  and  took  the  name  of  Juni- 
pero,  after  that  quaintest  and  drollest  of  all 
St.  Francis'  early  companions. 

At  the  time  when  Junipero  Serra  entered 
the  Majorca  convent  three  other  young  monks 
were  studying  there  —  Palou,  Verger  and 
Crespi.  The  four  became  intimate  and  affec 
tionate  companions  and  this  friendship  had 
much  to  do  with  the  success  of  the  great 
enterprise  in  which  afterwards  they  jointly 
labored,  and  to  which  even  in  their  student 
days,  they  looked  forward  with  passionate 
longing. 

New  Spain  was,  from  the  beginning,  the 
goal  of  their  most  ardent  wishes,  and  at  last, 
after  long  years  of  delays  and  monastic  routine, 
in  1749  there  assembled  at  Cadiz  a  great  body 
of  missionaries  destined  chiefly  for  Mexico, 
and  Palou  and  Serra  received  permission  to 
join  the  band.  Arriving  at  Cadiz  and  finding 
two  vacancies  left  in  the  party,  they  warmly 
pleaded  that  Crespi  and  Verger  be  allowed  to 
go  also.  At  the  last  moment  this  permission 
was  given,  and  the  four  friends  set  sail,  joyful, 

17 


DRIFT  O'  DRE4MS 

in  the  same  ship.  The  voyage  to  Vera  Cruz 
lasted  ninety-nine  days  and  was  full  of  great 
trials;  starvation  threatened  and  storms  beat 
the  ship,  but  through  it  all  Father  Junipero's 
courage  never  failed. 

For  nineteen  years  after  their  arrival  in 
Mexico,  Serra  and  his  companions  were  kept 
at  work  there,  under  the  guidance  and  control 
of  the  College  of  San  Fernando,  in  founding 
Missions  and  preaching. 

On  the  suppression  of  the  Jesuit  Order  in 
1767  and  the  consequent  expulsion  from  all 
the  Spanish  dominions,  it  was  decided  to  send 
a  body  of  Franciscans  to  take  charge  of  the 
Jesuit  Missions  in  California.  These  were  all 
in  Lower  California,  no  attempt  at  settlement 
having  yet  been  made  in  Upper  California. 
Once  more,  the  friends,  glad  and  exultant, 
joined  a  missionary  band  bound  to  new  wil 
dernesses.  There  were  but  three  now,  Verger 
remaining  behind  in  charge  of  the  College 
of  San  Fernando.  The  band  numbered  six 
teen  and  Serra  was  put  in  charge  of  it  and 
was  appointed  President  of  all  the  California 
Missions. 

It  was  now  the  purpose  of  Spain  to  proceed 
as  soon  as  possible  with  the  colonization  of 

18 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

Upper  California.  In  those  days  the  passion 
of  the  Church  allied  itself  gladly  with  the 
purpose  of  the  State,  and  the  latter  had  many 
statesmen  and  soldiers  of  fervid  religion. 
Such  a  one  was  Joseph  de  Galvez,  who  held 
the  office  of  Visator-General  and  Commander, 
representing  the  person  of  the  King,  and  in 
specting  the  workings  of  the  Government  in 
every  province  of  the  Spanish  empire.  Upon 
him  rested  the  responsibility  of  the  practical 
organization  of  the  first  expedition  into 
Upper  California.  It  was  he  who  ordered 
the  carrying  of  all  sorts  of  seeds,  of  vegetables, 
grains  and  flowers;  everything  that  would 
grow  in  Old  Spain  he  ordered  planted  in  the 
New.  He  ordered  that  two  hundred  head 
of  cattle  should  be  taken  from  the  northern 
most  Mission  of  Lower  California  and  carried 
to  the  new  posts.  He  also  packed  with  his 
own  hands  sacred  ornaments  and  vessels  for 
church  ceremonies. 

His  activity,  enthusiasm  and  generosity 
were  inexhaustible  and  he  had  humor  as 
well,  for  when  discussing  the  names  of  Mis 
sions  to  be  founded,  Father  Junipero  said  to 
him,  "  But  is  there  to  be  no  Mission  for 
our  Father  St.  Francis?",  he  replied,  "If 

19 


DRIFT  O'  DREJMS 

St.  Francis  wants  a  Mission  let  him  show  us 
his  post  and  we  will  put  one  there  for  him/' 

This  first  expedition  into  California  was 
divided  into  two  parts,  one  to  go  by  sea  and 
one  by  land ;  the  sea  party  in  two  ships,  the 
land  party  in  two  divisions.  Every  possible 
provision  and  precaution  was  thought  of  by 
the  wise  Galvez,  but  nothing  could  prevent 
the  journey  from  being  a  terribly  hard  one. 
Junipero,  with  his  characteristic  ardor,  insisted 
on  accompanying  one  of  the  land  parties, 
although  he  suffered  from  an  old  wound  on 
the  leg,  and  the  second  day  out  he  was  help 
less.  Portola,  the  military  commander  of  the 
party,  begged  him  to  be  carried  in  a  litter, 
but  this  he  could  not  brook,  so  he  called  a 
muleteer  to  him  and  told  him  to  consider 
him  as  one  of  his  beasts  and  treat  him  accord 
ingly.  The  muleteer  then  mixed  herbs  and 
applied  them  with  such  good  results  that 
the  Father  could  proceed  on  his  journey  the 
next  day. 

They  had  set  out  on  their  journey  on  March 
24th,  and  it  was  not  until  the  13th  of  May 
that  they  reached  the  high  ground  and  had 
their  first  view  of  the  Bay  of  San  Diego  and 
saw  the  masts  of  the  ships  lying  at  anchor 

20 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

there.  As  soon  as  the  San  Diego  camp  was 
reached  great  joy  filled  every  heart.  The 
friars  who  had  come  by  sea  ran  to  meet  and 
embrace  their  brethren. 

Six  weeks  later  the  second  land  party  with 
Junipero  Serra  arrived,  eager  to  proceed  to 
the  establishment  of  the  Mission.  Sickness 
delayed  this  until  on  the  16th  of  July,  1769, 
a  cross  was  raised,  mass  was  sung  in  a  rude 
booth  of  branches  and  reeds  ;  for  want  of  an 
organ  firearms  were  discharged ;  and  thus  was 
founded  the  Mission  of  San  Diego  and  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  civilization 
of  California. 

Only  two  days  after  this  the  indefatigable 
Father  Crespi  with  Portola  set  out  on  another 
overland  march  to  find  Monterey,  but  were 
unsuccessful  and  after  much  suffering  returned 
to  San  Diego  after  over  six  months  of  toil  and 
hardship. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1770,  the  supply 
ship  from  Mexico  arrived  and  in  a  few  weeks 
expeditions  were  ready  to  search  for  the  hid 
den  Monterey.  Father  Crespi  led  the  land 
party  and  arrived  at  the  Point  of  Pines  seven 
days  before  the  ships  arrived  with  Junipero, 
still  enfeebled  from  illness,  on  board. 

21 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

The  next  day  the  parties  met  amid  great 
rejoicing,  and  on  June  3,  1770,  they  took 
possession  in  the  name  of  the  Church  and  the 
King,  planting  the  cross  and  the  royal  standard 
side  by  side  in  the  sand  on  the  same  spot 
where  Viscayno  with  the  Carmelite  friars  had 
landed  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  years 
before. 

The  history  of  the  next  fifteen  years  is  one 
of  struggle,  hardship  and  heroic  achievement. 
Father  Serra  was  the  mainspring  and  support 
of  it  all.  There  seemed  no  limit  to  his  endur 
ance  or  bound  to  his  desires;  nothing  daunted 
his  courage  or  chilled  his  sublime  faith. 

There  were  nine  missions  founded  by  him 
before  his  death  in  1784.  In  order:  San 
Diego  in  1769;  San  Carlos  de  Monterey  June 
3,  1770;  San  Antonio  de  Padua  July  14,  1771 ; 
San  Gabriel  September  8, 1771 ;  San  Luis  Obis- 
po  September  1,  1772;  San  Francisco  de  Assisi 
Odtober  9,  1776;  San  Juan  Capistrano  Novem 
ber  1,  1776;  Santa  Clara  January  18,  1777; 
and  San  Buena  Ventura  March  3,  1782. 

The  records  of  the  founding  of  the  Missions 
are  similar  in  detail,  but  are  full  of  interest  to 
one  of  sympathy  either  with  their  spiritual  or 
historical  significance. 

22 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

At  the  Mission  San  Antonio,  which  was 
one  of  the  richest  and  most  repaying,  was  a 
curious  mill  in  which  flour  was  ground.  It 
was  run  by  water  brought  in  a  stone-walled 
ditch  for  many  miles  and  driven  against  a 
large  wheel  through  a  funnel-shaped  flume. 
It  was  entirely  the  work  of  an  Indian  named 
Nolberto,  and  made  the  Mission  famous  for 
the  best  flour  made  in  the  new  country. 

The  Indians  of  San  Gabriel  seem  to  have 
been  a  superior  race.  They  spoke  a  soft, 
musical  language  and  had  many  usages  of 
politeness,  such  as  "a  child  bringing  water  to 
an  elder  must  not  touch  it,"  and  that  "to  pass 
between  two  persons  who  were  speaking  was 
an  offence."  They  also  played  games  in 
which  they  decked  themselves  with  flowers, 
and  had  song  contests  which  often  lasted 
many  days. 

The  San  Carlos  Mission  at  Monterey  was 
Father  Junipero's  own  charge.  There  he 
spent  all  his  time  when  not  called  away  by 
his  duties  as  President  of  the  Missions.  It 
was  there  he  died  and  was  buried.  There 
also  his  beloved  friend  and  brother,  Father 
Crespi,  labored  by  his  side  for  thirteen  years. 
Almost  with  his  dying  breath  Father  Junipero 

23 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

had  promised  to  use  "all  his  influence  with 
God"  in  behalf  of  the  Missions.  In  the 
next  four  months  there  were  so  many  con 
verts  that  the  belief  became  common  that 
his  soul  had  passed  diredtly  into  heaven  and 
that  the  great  wave  of  conversions  was  the 
result  of  his  prayers.  Prosperity  continued 
steadily  to  increase. 

The  rule  of  the  friars  was  in  the  main  a 
kindly  one.  The  vice  of  drunkenness  was 
severely  punished  by  flogging.  Quarrelling 
between  husbands  and  wives  w^as  also  dealt 
with  summarily.  The  offending  parties  were 
chained  together  by  the  leg  until  they  were 
glad  to  promise  to  keep  peace. 

At  every  Mission  there  were  walled  gar 
dens  with  waving  palms,  sparkling  fountains, 
groves  of  olive  trees,  broad  vineyards  and 
orchards  of  all  manner  of  fruits. 

In  a  comparatively  short  time  the  good 
friars  had  transformed  savages  into  masons, 
carpenters,  plasterers,  soap-makers,  tanners, 
shoe-makers,  blacksmiths,  millers,  bakers, 
cooks,  brick-makers,  carters  and  cart-makers, 
weavers  and  spinners,  saddlers,  ship-hands, 
agriculturalists,  herdsmen  and  vintagers. 

In  all  the  Missions  were  buildings  on  a  large 

24 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

scale,  providing  for  hundreds  of  occupants 
for  all  the  necessary  trades  and  manufactures 
and  many  of  the  ornamental  arts  of  civilized 
life.  Enormous  tracts  of  land  were  under 
high  cultivation;  the  grains  and  cool  fruits 
of  the  temperate  zone  flourished  side  by  side 
by  the  palm,  olive,  grape,  fig,  orange  and 
pomegranate. 

From  the  two  hundred  head  of  cattle  sent 
by  the  wise  Galvez,  had  grown  herds  past 
numbering;  and  to  these  had  been  added  vast 
flocks  of  sheep  and  herds  of  horses.  In  the 
nineteen  Missions  were  gathered  over  twenty 
thousand  Indians,  leading  regular  and  indus 
trious  lives  and  conforming  to  the  rules  of  the 
Church. 

The  friars  were  forced,  on  account  of  their 
situation,  into  the  exercise  of  a  constant  and 
abounding  hospitality,  and  this  they  discharged 
most  royally.  Travelers  rooms  were  kept 
always  ready  in  every  Mission.  He  was  served 
with  the  best  of  wine  and  food  as  long  as  he 
would  stay,  and  when  he  left  was  offered  a 
fresh  horse  to  continue  his  journey.  All  the 
California  travelers  and  voyagers  speak  in 
glowing  terms  of  this  generous  and  cordial 
treatment  of  the  friars. 

25 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

Did  you  ever  pause  to  think  what  a  differ 
ence  there  was  a  hundred  years  ago  between 
the  atmosphere  of  life  on  the  east  and  west 
sides  of  the  American  continent?  On  the 
Atlantic  shore  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans, 
weighed  down  by  serious  purpose,  half  grudg 
ing  the  time  for  their  one  staid  yearly  Thanks 
giving  and  driving  the  Indians  farther  and 
farther  into  the  wilderness  every  year,  fighting 
and  killing  them ;  on  the  sunny  Pacific  shore 
the  merry  people  of  Mexican  and  Spanish 
blood,  troubling  themselves  about  nothing, 
dancing  away  whole  days  and  nights  like 
children,  while  their  priests  were  gathering 
the  Indians  by  thousands  into  communities 
and  feeding  and  teaching  them.  Mission  after 
Mission  had  been  founded  until,  in  1804,  the 
line  extended  from  San  Diego  to  San  Fran 
cisco,  and  comprised  nineteen  Missions,  an 
easy  day's  journey  apart  from  each  other. 

The  ten  new  Missions  were  founded  in 
the  following  order:  Santa  Barbara  December 
4,  1786;  La  Purissima  Concepcion  December 
8,  1787;  Santa  Cruz  September  25,  1791; 
Soledad  October  9,  1791;  San  Jose  June  11, 
1797;  San  Juan  Bautista  June  24,  1797;  San 
Miguel  July  25,  1797;  San  Fernando  Key 

26 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

September  8,  1797;  San  Luis  Key  de  Francia 
June  18,  1798;  and  Santa  Inez,  September 
7,  1804.  Beginnings  had  also  been  made  on 
a  second  line  to  be  from  thirty  to  fifty  miles 
back  from  the  sea,  and  this  inland  chain  of 
settlements  and  development  promised  to  be 
in  no  way  inferior  to  the  first. 

The  wealth  of  the  Mission  establishments 
had  grown  to  an  almost  incredible  degree.  In 
several  of  them  massive  stone  churches  had 
been  built,  of  an  architecture  at  once  so  simple 
and  harmonious  that  even  in  ruins  it  is  today 
the  grandest  in  America;  and  it  will  remain, 
so  long  as  arch,  pillar,  or  dome  of  it  shall 
stand,  a  noble  and  touching  monument  of  the 
patient  Indian  workers  who  built,  and  of  the 
devoted  friars  who  designed,  its  majestic  and 
graceful  proportions. 

The  Mission  of  San  Rafael  Arcangel  was 
founded  December  14,  1817,  in  the  beautiful 
spot  where  the  city  of  San  Rafael  now  stands, 
but  not  a  trace  remains  save  one  or  two  old 
pear  trees  planted  by  the  fathers. 

On  July  4,  1823,  the  Mission  of  San  Fran 
cisco  de  Solano  was  founded  by  Padre  Alti- 
mira.  It  was  the  twenty-first  and  the  last  of 
the  great  chain  of  California  Missions,  the 

27 


DRIFT  0'  DREAMS 

like  of  which  is  not  to  be  found  elsewhere  in 
the  world.  Its  beautiful  gardens  are  obliter 
ated,  its  great  bells  gone,  and  it  is  fast  decay 
ing.  These  last  two  missions  were  founded 
too  late  to  attain  any  great  success  or  import 
ance.  With  the  increase  of  wealth,  success 
and  power  of  the  Missions,  came  troubles 
with  the  military  settlements.  In  the  begin 
ning  there  were  no  grants  of  land ;  everything 
was  done  by  Eoyal  Decree. 

The  Mission  affairs,  literally,  were  admin 
istered  with  admirable  simplicity  and  system. 
The  soul  of  the  plan  was  4 '  the  minimum  of 
functionaries  with  the  maximum  of  responsi 
bility/'  The  soldiers  were  sent  avowedly  to 
protect  the  friars,  but  by  1800  it  had  become 
the  duty  of  the  Missions  to  support  the  Pre 
sidios,  the  military  governors  being  authorized 
to  draw  upon  the  friars  not  only  for  supplies 
but  for  contributions  of  money  and  for  levies 
of  laborers.  In  the  years  between  1801  and 
1810  the  Missions  furnished  the  Presidios  about 
eighteen  thousand  dollars  worth  of  supplies. 
In  the  year  1820  the  outstanding  drafts  on  the 
Government  in  favor  of  the  Missions  amount 
ed  to  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  By  now 
the  Spanish  government  was  impatient  to  see 

28 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

carried  out,  and  to  reap  the  benefit  of,  the 
pueblo  feature  of  its  colonization  plan. 

This  meant  the  forming  of  the  Indian  com 
munities  of  the  Missions  into  pueblos,  or 
towns,  the  Missions  to  be  secularized,  that  is, 
turned  into  curacies,  the  pueblo  being  the 
parish.  This  was  no  doubt  the  wise  and 
proper  ultimate  scheme,  but  it  came  prema 
turely.  This  was  set  forth  in  sounding  phrase 
as  purely  for  the  Indians'  benefit,  that  they 
might  become  citizens  of  towns;  but  it  was 
more  for  Spain,  since  by  its  provisions  one- 
half  of  the  Mission  lands  were  to  be  sold  for 
the  payment  of  Spain's  national  debt. 

Affairs  grew'  more  and  more  unsettled. 
Spanish  viceroys  and  Mexican  insurgents  took 
turns  at  ruling  in  Mexico,  and  the  represen 
tatives  of  each  took  turns  at  ruling  in  Cali 
fornia.  During  three  years  the  secularization 
pro j eel:  was  continually  agitated.  At  last  in 
1834  the  final  blow  fell  on  the  Missions.  The 
Governor  of  California,  on  instructions  from 
Mexico,  issued  an  authoritative  edict  for  their 
secularization.  The  friars  were  to  hand  over 
all  records  and  inventories,  lands,  movable 
property,  property  of  all  classes  to  stewards  or 
administrators  appointed.  Dwinelle  goes  on 

29 


DRIFT  a  DREAMS 

to  say:  "The  laws  were  executed  in  such  a 
manner  that  the  so-called  secularization  of  the 
Missions  resulted  in  their  plunder  and  com 
plete  ruin  and  in  the  demoralization  and  dis 
persion  of  the  christianized  Indians." 

In  1834  there  were,  at  the  lowest  estimates, 
20,000  Indians  in  the  Missions:  De  Mofra's 
statistics  gives  the  number  at  30,620;  in  1840 
there  were  left,  all  told,  6,000.  In  compari 
son,  for  these  same  six  years  the  number  of 
cattle,  horses,  sheep  and  mules  fell  from 
808,000  to  6,320.  Under  the  new  regime  the 
friars  suffered  hardly  less  than  the  Indians. 
Some  fled  the  country,  unable  to  bear  the 
humiliations  and  hardships  of  their  positions 
under  the  major-domos. 

Among  this  number  was  Father  Peyri,  who 
had  been  for  over  thirty  years  in  charge  of  the 
splendid  Mission  of  San  Luis  Rey.  In  1829 
it  had  2686  Indians,  20,000  head  of  cattle  and 
20,000  head  of  sheep.  It  controlled  200,000 
acres  of  land  and  there  were  raised  in  its  fields 
in  one  year  3000  bushels  of  wheat,  6000  bush 
els  of  barley  and  10,000  bushels  of  corn.  No 
other  Mission  had  so  fine  a  church.  It  was 
one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  long,  fifty  feet 
wide  and  sixty  high,  with  walls  four  feet 

30 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

thick.  The  tower  had  a  belfry  for  eight  bells. 
The  corridor  on  the  opposite  side  had  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six  arches.  Its  gold  and 
silver  ornaments  are  said  to  have  been  superb. 
Father  Azagomas  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  Father 
Gutierrez  of  San  Antonio,  and  Father  Sarria 
of  Soledad  Mission,  were  soldiers  of  the  cross 
who  remained  with  their  Indian  charges  till 
death  freed  them  from  their  sufferings. 

For  ten  years  after  the  Secularization  Act 
affairs  went  steadily  from  bad  to  worse.  In 
March,  1846,  Governor  Pico  was  authorized 
by  the  President  of  Mexico  to  sell  the  Mis 
sions  to  raise  money  to  defend  the  country 
against  the  United  States.  This  he  did  at 
illegal  sales  and  for  insignificant  sums.  On  the 
7th  of  July,  1846,  the  American  flag  was  raised 
at  Monterey  and  formal  possession  of  Cali 
fornia  was  taken  by  the  United  States.  Then 
after  being  held  in  abeyance  for  years,  the 
church,  Mission  buildings  and  small  parcels  of 
land,  were  returned  into  the  unalienable  pos 
session  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  Mission 
property,  the  large  traces  of  land  cultivated  for 
the  community's  purpose,  it  was  decided, 
must  be  considered  as  government  property. 
The  Santa  Barbara  Mission  is  still  in  the 

31 


DRIFT  O'  DRE4MS 

charge  of  Franciscans,  the  only  one  remain 
ing  in  their  possession.  It  stands  three  miles 
from  the  beach,  on  high  ground  back  of  the 
town  and  looking  to  the  sea.  It  is  an  ever 
lasting  benediction  to  the  city.  About  thirty 
miles  to  the  north  lies  the  most  desolate  ruin 
of  all  the  Missions.  Poor  La  Purissima! 
Founded  by  one  of  the  ables  padres  —  Lausen 
—  it  seemed  claimed  by  adversity.  Almost 
totally  destroyed  by  the  earthquake  of  1812, 
it  was  rebuilt,  and  later  badly  damaged  by  the 
Indians  in  1824.  Nothing  is  left  now  but  a 
long,  low  adobe  building  in  desolate  ruins. 
Here,  too,  some  old  pear  trees  are  to  be 
found,  which  stretch  out  gaunt  and  shriveled 
boughs  which  still  bear  a  few  pinched  little 
blossoms. 

At  San  Juan  Bautista  there  lingers  more  of 
the  atmosphere  of  the  olden  time  than  is  to 
be  found  in  any  other  place  in  California. 
The  Mission  church  is  well  preserved  and  its 
grounds  are  enclosed  and  cared  for.  In  its 
garden  the  roses  and  vines  still  grow  in  the 
shelter  of  ancient  palms.  The  church  fronts 
south,  on  a  little  green,  locust- walled  plaza, 
the  sleepiest,  sunniest,  dreamiest  place  in  the 
world.  In  1825  there  were  spoken  at  this 

32 


THE  GREAT  FRANCISCANS  AND  THEIR  WORK 

Mission  thirteen  different  Indian  dialects. 
The  Mission  San  Francisco  De  Assisi,  in 
San  Francisco,  is  also  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation.  Its  grounds  are  narrowed  down, 
by  the  modern  world,  to  the  small  cemetery 
on  the  south  side,  but  services  are  held  regu 
larly,  and  it  presents  a  sharp  contrast  in  dura 
bility  of  material  and  construction  to  the  new 
church,  which  was  completely  destroyed  in 
the  earthquake  and  fire  of  1906.  A  worthy 
and  admirable  work  is  the  recent  placing  of 
Mission  bell  sign  posts  along  the  Camina  Real, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  people  of  today 
may  and  will  awake  to  a  tardy  realization  of 
the  grand  work  of  the  pioneers  of  California. 
For  such  were  the  Franciscan  fathers  in  the 
truest  sense  of  the  word.  They  were  men  of 
pure  character,  of  superior  talent  and  morals, 
of  greatest  unselfishness  and  untiring  energy. 
For  these  good  and  devoted  men,  who  with 
such  wisdom,  sagacity  and  self-sacrifice,  reared 
these  wonderful  institutions  in  the  wilderness 
of  California  we  can  but  feel  the  greatest  love 
and  reverence.  It  is  surely  our  duty  to  learn 
all  we  can  of  their  wonderful  achievement  and 
to  perpetuate  in  every  possible  way  the  glory 
of  their  names. 

33 


DRIFT  Oy  DREAMS 


AN  INDIAN  LAMENT. 

The  day  is  done.     Across  the  plain 
The  evening  shadows  slowly  creep; 
And  twilight  flings  her  violet  robe 
To  lull  the  weary  earth  to  sleep. 

The  birds  fly  homeward  to  the  nest, 
Crooning  a  lullaby  to  the  day; 
Faint  voices  of  the  evening  wake 
And  softly  on  my  heart-strings  play. 

As  in  a  dream,  I  see  once  more 
The  lordly  chiefs  in  council  sit. 
I  hear  again  their  voices  chant 
Our  legends  old  — by  firelight  lit. 

Their  words  of  council  —  wisely  given  - 
Come  echoing  back  o'er  barren  years. 
Alas!      The  pledge  was  unfulfilled 
And  faith  has  given  place  to  fears. 

The  God-given  lands  are  ours  no  more, 
Our  people  scattered  far  and  wide; 
The  fleet  deer  and  the  buffalo 
No  longer  speed  our  chase  beside. 


34 


AN  INDIAN'S  LAMENT 

An  ancient  race  of  nature' s  men 

Has  fallen  to  a  low  estate. 

And  answering  my  protesting  cry, 

The  chill  of  evening  wails,  "Too  late." 

I  fold  my  arms  on  the  aching  breast, 

I  turn  my  face  to  the  setting  sun. 

I  wait  in  patience  the  call  to  rest, 

'Tis  the  Father's  will.     The  day  is  done. 


35 


DRIFT  a  DREAMS 


IN  YEARS  TO  COME. 

In  years  to  come !     What  a  mystic  phrase ! 
With  wonder  we  think  of  those  future  days. 
We  clothe  that  time  with  our  dearest  dreams, 
Our  fondest  hopes,  till  at  last  there  gleams 
Our  ideal  bright  and  clear. 

One  longs  for  a  name  renowned  and  great, 
And  to  win  this  crown  he  wars  with  fate. 
Hope  in  his  heart  for  those  future  years, 
Guides  him  safely  through  toil  and  fears 
Like  a  beacon  light  afar. 

Another  dreams  of  a  quiet  nest 
Far  away  with  one  his  heart  loves  best. 
The  aching  brain  by  a  sweet  voice  lulled. 
The  tired  eyes  rested  by  roses  culled 
In  a  twilight  garden  fair. 

The  sailor  dreams  as  he  rides  the  foam 
Of  the  bonny  lass  who  waits  at  home. 
Of  the  time  at  last,  with  a  guerdon  won, 
Home  from  the  treacherous  sea  he'll  come 
To  claim  his  own  fair  bride. 


36 


IN  YEARS  TO  COME 

In  the  city  one  toils  from  early  morn 
With  patient  courage,  till  set  of  sun; 
With  steadfast  hope  that  the  future  brings 
Him  the  joy  of  travel, —  the  bird  that  sings 
Bravely  within  his  heart. 

And  oft  there  lives  in  a  mansion  grand, 
With  luxuries  on  every  hand, 
An  empty  heart:   that  would  gladly  give 
All  wealth,  but  a  little  while  to  live 
In  the  realm  of  love's  content. 

Tell  me,  oh  future  years  to  come, 
Do  you  bring  at  last  the  wanderer  home? 
Will  the  plaudits  of  a  famous  name 
Ring  out  for  him  who  longs  for  fame, 
And  strives  so  hard  to  win? 

My  heart  goes  out  to  him  who  dreamed 
Of  the  quiet  nest, —  so  sweet  it  seemed. 
Will  he  find  the  roses  he  loved  so  well? 
And  will  Love  the  old,  old  story  tell 
At  last,  to  that  empty  heart? 

Beyond  today  we  may  not  know, 
But  the  stars  each  night  in  the  heavens  glow. 
And  faith  that  our  dreams  come  true,  at  last, 
Shall  guide  our  bark  though  the  waves  sweep  fast 
On  life's  tempestuous  sea. 


37 


DRIFT  a  DREAMS 


A  PROPHESY. 

Last  night  in  the  midst  of  a  peaceful  sleep 

A  vision  came  to  me  — 
And  I  beheld  a  happy  throng 

Marching  in  harmony. 

Sometimes  the  road  was  smooth  and  straight, 

Sometimes  over  stony  lands. 
Then  the  stronger  turned  and  helped  the  weak, 

With  eager  outstretched  hands. 

Each  beautiful  act  brought  its  own  reward, 

Each  kind,  unselfish  word 
Spoken  to  a  faltering  one, 

On  the  echo,  afar  was  heard. 

Then  I  knew  that  the  dream  was  a  prophesy, 

That  a  message  had  been  sent, 
To  each  and  every  one  of  us 

That  our  lives  be  wisely  spent. 

That  we  march  courageously  on  and  up, 

Toward  a  shining  goal, 
Striving  to  be  broad,  and  true, 

And  helping,  with  heart  and  soul. 


38 


A  PROPHESY 

Let  us  have,  like  a  beacon  on  a  hill, 

An  Ideal,  —  clear  and  bright. 
Then  steadfastly  climb  toward  it 

With  helping  hands  —  left  and  right. 

Forgetful  of  self,  let  us  each  attempt 
Something  that  is  worth  while. 

Let  us  be  large  in  thought  and  deed, 
And  generous  in  word  and  smile. 

Remember,  he  who  gives  most  away 

The  richer  is  by  far; 
And  the  soul  that  sees  not  another' s  fault, 

Has  Heaven  for  its  guiding  star. 

And  now  I  dream  of  another  throng, 

Of  lofty  ideals  the  same; 
The  bright  club  women  of  today, 

All  honor  to  their  name. 


39 


DRIFT  a  DREAMS 


FRIENDSHIP. 

(To  Hattie.) 

I  wandered  along  in  a  listless  way 
Grown  tired  of  the  dusty  road. 
The  hills  that  at  morn  had  looked  so  fair 
Seemed  my  weary  eyes  to  goad. 

The  flowers  had  wilted  from  mid-day  heat, 
And  life  seemed  a  joyless  dream 
When,  all  unlooked-for  beside  my  path, 
Shone  a  beautiful  jewel's  gleam. 

I  stooped  to  gather  the  gem  so  rare, 
And  into  my  bosom  thrust 
With  boundless  joy  —  this  precious  find, 
A  friend  that  I  could  trust. 


40 


ONE  HOUR  IN  A  THOUSAND  YEARS' 

' '  A  duty  fulfilled  is  the  only  peace. 


O  the  busy,  rushing,  modern 
world  I  am  only  a  beautiful 
jewel.  I  admit  being  one 
of  the  favorite  gems,  and 
that,  even  to  these  thought 
less  ones  of  today,  I  some 
times  bring  a  hint  of  mys 
tery.  Yet  how  little  they  understand !  But 
the  Wise  Man  of  the  East  would  hold  me 
tenderly  in  his  hand  and  tell  you — with  pity 
for  your  shallow  knowledge  in  his  deep,  calm 
eyes  —  that  every  opal  is  an  imprisoned  soul, 
to  which  comes  an  hour  of  freedom  once  in 
a  thousand  years. 

If  Love,  or  Friendship,  or  Loyalty,  or  in 
the  words  of  the  Eastern  poet,  "the  one  most 
dear"  has  stood  the  test  of  time,  finding  her, 
the  soul  will  remain  forever  free. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  hour's  search 
reveals  not  such  constancy,  truth  and  faithful 
ness,  the  soul  must  return  to  its  prison  again. 


41 


DRIfT  O*  DREAMS 

I  am  filled  with  a  longing  so  great  it  is 
almost  a  mortal  pain.  As  the  midnight  hour 
draws  near  it  seems  as  if  each  second  length 
ened  itself  purposely,  to  test  my  strength  of 
endurance.  But  the  great  law  is  inexorable, 
and  everything  passes  —  even  time.  With  an 
inner  trembling  I  remember  that  they  say 
Love  passes  too;  but  that  I  cannot  believe! 
No,  even  Time  cannot  conquer  Love!  Is  not 
the  fervor  of  my  own  heart  proof  enough  of 
this  ?  Now,  as  I  look  back,  I  can  forgive  the 
endless  years  of  waiting  wherein  was  no  thought 
but  of  the  hour  when  I  should  be  free,  to  flee 
to  Her.  Mortals  deem  my  prison  cell  very 
beautiful.  I  am  surrounded  by  earth's  most 
precious  gems  —  pure  glittering  diamonds. 

A  gentle  lady  holds  me  dear  and  has  given 
me,  for  many  years,  her  care  and  affection. 
This  has  been  to  me  like  a  cool,  sustaining 
breeze  to  the  fevered  brow  of  a  fainting  trav 
eler.  Indeed  I  think  she  understands.  Her 
soul  has  oft  communed  with  mine,  over  the 
hedge  of  life's  trivialities,  and  the  communion 
has  been  sweet.  She  is  so  gentle  and  dear, 
at  times  I  almost  shink  —  but  hark!  at  last 
the  bells!  one  second  more  and  I  shall  be  free! 


42 


ONE  HOUR  IN  A  THOUSAND  TEARS 

Oh,  the  glorious  expanse  of  the  starlit  sky! 
The  exquisite  joy  of  stretching  again  the  long 
cramped  wings!  The  fresh,  sweet  night  air, 
and  the  unutterable  joy  of  freedom  in  your 
heart!  There  is  no  question  of  the  way  — 
just  straight  to  Her,  and  finding  Her  true  and 
faithful,  there  will  never  be  for  me  the  prison 
cell  again. 

*  *  Sfc  ifc  %  Jfc 

I  have  hunted  far  without  finding  a  trace 
of  the  "one  most  dear".  Everything  is 
changed,  and  I  am  so  weary.  Yet  my  hour 
of  liberty  flies  quickly  by.  I  know  not  which 
way  to  turn!  Something  seems  to  draw  me, 
a's  in  a  circle,  back  to  the  beginning  of  my 
flight.  Oh,  for  a  word  of  guidance! 

Then  a  heavenly  calm  falls  over  me  and  a 
voice  whispers  in  my  ear:  — 

"Thy  'one  most  dear  '  is  a  prisoner  also. 
Had  thy  thoughts  been  less  of  self  thou 
wouldst  have  known  how  very  near  to  thee 
she  was." 

"  Thy  prison  cell  is  thy  duty.  Fulfilling 
that  duty,  thou  shalt  have  peace.  Strength 
ening  thy  faith,  thou  shalt  see  clearly.  For 
getting  thyself,  great  reward  shall  be  thine." 


43 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

I  am  ready,  nay,  anxious  to  go  back! 

I  await  the  toll  of  the  bell!  When  the 
gentle  lady  looks  long  and  earnestly  into  my 
heart  again,  I  shall  better  understand.  I  shall 
know  that  our  souls  are  very  near.  That 
soon,  a  thousand  years,  or  but  a  day  —  it 
matters  not  —  duty  will  be  fulfilled  and  we 
shall  be  one  through  all  eternity. 

Till  then,  I  will  wait  content;  knowing 
that  love  is  true,  that  a  duty  fulfilled  is  the 
only  peace,  and  that  our  souls,  though  often 
faint,  can  never  die. 


44 


AN  UNINVITED  GUEST. 

' '  To  hesitate  is  to  lose  —  always. ' ' 


Y  first  consciousness  was  of 
some  disturbing  element  — 
something  vague — intruding 
itself  upon  me,  and  against 
which  I  rebelled,  for  my  sleep 
had  been  deep  and  refreshing 
and  the  darkness  told  me  it 
must  still  be  quite  early.  So  I  nestled  down 
a  little  closer  among  the  warm  covers  and 
tried  to  drift  away  again.  But  it  was  useless. 
For  now  I  could  distinctly  hear  a  gentle  but 
persistent  tapping  at  the  entrance  of  my 
thoughts.  Resignedly  I  rouse  myself,  and 
cautiously  opened  the  door,  and  there,  close 
to  the  portals  a  chubby  little  fellow  stood, 
smiling  up  at  me. 

It  was  His  Thought  —  I  recognized  him 
instantly.  In  the  second's  hesitation,  the 
moment  of  mental  conflict  between  the 
strange  wish  to  call  him  in  and  the  certain 
knowledge  that  he  was  a  bold  intruder  and 
without  any  right  to  enter,  he  toddled  by  me 

45 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 

and  with  a  winsome  glance  stood  in  the  very 
center  of  the  sanctuary,  expectantly  looking 
up  at  me. 

He  was  so  small  in  the  big,  bare  room  that 
had  been  so  long  untenanted!  And  yet  he 
had  brought  with  him  such  a  glow  of  warmth 
and  happiness  that  I  drew  quickly  back  that 
I  might  —  just  for  a  moment  —  watch  him 
unobserved.  There  was  also  a  feeling  of 
guilt.  I  should  never,  never  have  allowed 
him  to  come  in;  and  now  nothing  remained 
but  to  put  him  out  again. 

But  how?     To  hesitate  is  to  lose  —  always. 

When  I  looked  again  he  was  no  longer 
alone!  My  Thought  was  there  with  him, 
hand  in  hand,  and  they  were  as  contented 
and  care  free  as  two  butterflies  in  the  sun 
shine.  My  reasoning  material  self  seemed  to 
shrink  and  fade  away,  and  the  power  to  act 
was  suspended;  I  could  only  remain  motion 
less  and  watch. 

Then,  without  a  thought,  they  clambered 
all  over  my  choice  conventionalities,  pulled 
down  my  ancient  rules  and  precepts  and  scat 
tered  my  well  kept  regulations  all  over  the 
floor.  They  nibbled  greedily  of  my  treasured 
sweets,  then  ruthlessly  soiled  my  keepsakes, 

46 


AN  UNINVITED  GUEST 

leaving  marks  Time  will  be  long  in  effacing. 
And  through  it  all  they  were  amazingly 
happy !  I  could  have  gasped,  only  the  fasci 
nation  of  what  was  happening  held  me  noise 
less.  How  My  Thought  had  stolen  from  me 
I  could  never  tell;  but  since  she  had  joined 
the  little  "  poacher ",  the  pair  boldly  ruined 
my  best  intentions,  disarming  me  with  their 
foolish  happiness. 

Suddenly  a  noise  of  the  outer  world  brings 
a  realization  that  the  regular  routine  of  life 
must  be  taken  up  again.  With  a  start  I  catch 
up  My  Thought,  and  giving  her  a  cruel  little 
shake,  I  crush  her  back  of  will  and  duty,  and 
bundle  His  Thought  out  into  the  cold  and 
close  the  door  quickly. 

But  not  so  quickly  but  that  he  had  time  to 
turn  his  curly  head  and  flash  up  at  me  a  taunt 
ing  smile  which  told  me,  only  too  plainly, 
that  he  knew  the  way  and  might  come  again. 

And  since  there  is  no  denying  he  has  a 
confederate  still  on  the  inside,  I  stand  and 
hold  the  door,  not  knowing 


47 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 


THE  BORDER  GATE. 

I  seem  to  stand  on  a  rugged  crest, 

A  place  where  three  trails  meet. 

With  backward  glance  I  can  trace  the  path 

I  climbed  with  youth' s  brave  feet. 

There  are  many  spots  where  the  sun  shone  bright 
Some,  too,  with  lonesome  shade, 
And  some  where  storms  beat  cruelly 
Before  these  heights  were  made. 

'Twas  good  that  youth  was  with  me  then, 
'Twere  a  sad  attempt  made  now. 
I  turn  my  face  to  the  future  place 
Nor  thoughts  of  the  past  allow. 

Down  the  second  path  as  I  shield  my  eyes 
And  look  toward  life's  setting  sun, 
There  hangs  a  mist  of  uncertainty 
To  pass,  ere  the  journey's  done. 

Then  there  comes  a  murmur  to  my  ears, 
Like  the  song  of  a  summer  sea, 
And  I  know,  before  my  soul  admits  — 
That  the  third  trail  calls  to  me. 


48 


THE  BORDER  GATE 

Like  distant  music  on  breezes  borne, 
Or  a  half-glimpse  of  beauties  rare, 
Comes  the  longing  to  fathom  the  beyond, 
To  slip  from  this  world  of  care. 

The  rustling  leaves  a  summons  bring, 
The  shadows  beckon  a  hand. 
And  I  long  through  the  border  gate  to  swing, 
Into  the  unknown  land. 


49 


DRIFT  O'  DREAMS 


CLOSING  THE  CLUB  YEAR. 

Another  year!      So  much  it  means 
Either  of  progress  or  decay. 
For  in  our  busy  rushing  world,! 
There  is  no  ''.standing  still"   today. 

Each  one  must  march  with  lifted  face 
Toward  the  higher  spheres,  that  call; 
Or  careless,  lagging,  lose  the  race, 
And  slow  decay,  like  crumbling  wall. 

The  bright  club-women  here  today, 
Have  heard  the  call,  and  eager  rise 
The  heights  to  climb,  the  truth  to  prove : 
Success  in  earnest  effort  lies. 

So  let  us  in  the  coming  year, 

New  victories  win, —  new  heights  attain. 

On  every  mountain-top  is  rest 
Each  cross  is  given  a  crown  to  gain. 


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